Budget airline stocks dip as Spirit pilots ratify contract that’ll help the carrier stay afloat
Low-cost airlines JetBlue and Frontier are trading lower on Thursday following the news that Spirit Airlines pilots ratified modifications to their labor contract that will lower costs for the carrier, which filed for bankruptcy in August.
According to the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), Spirit pilots approved a deal that included “temporary reductions to pay rates and retirement contributions.” Beginning January 1, hourly pay will be reduced 8% and retirement contributions will drop by half from 16% to 8%.
"Spirit pilots made a difficult choice that provides the Company with what it needs from labor to secure financing and complete its restructuring,” said Captain Ryan P. Muller, chairman of the Spirit Airlines Master Executive Council.
Wall Street sees Jetblue and Frontier as the biggest beneficiaries to Spirit’s woes, and both carriers have attempted to purchase Spirit in recent years.